The Letter

– A well-bred, lovely, spiritual, sad young woman marries an attentive physician who loves her. She fe..

Type:
Movie
Rating:
6.30 / 10
Duration:
One Hour and 47 Minutes
Release Year:
1999
Original Name:
La Lettre
The Letter (1999) - Also known as La Lettre

A well-bred, lovely, spiritual, sad young woman marries an attentive physician who loves her. She feels affection but no love. Soon after, without design, she falls in love with Pedro Abrunhosa, a poet and performance artist. He also loves her. She keeps her distance from him, confessing her love to a friend who is a nun and, later, to her husband. Hunger for her love and jealousy consume him; she attends him as he wastes away. With his death, she can marry and express her passion, but what she does and how she explains herself, particularly to her cloistered friend, is at the heart of the film. Glimpses of convent life and of Abrunhosa on stage give contrast and mute comment.

Story Timeline:
Producing Country:
Filming Locations:
Genre:
Release Date:

23 Nov 1940

Language:

English

MPAA Content-Rating:
Not Rated

Director:

William Wyler

Writer:

W. Somerset Maugham (by), Howard Koch (screen play)

Main Actors:

Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson, Frieda Inescort

Plot:

The wife of a rubber plantation administrator shoots a man to death and claims it was self-defense. Her poise, graciousness and stoicism impress nearly everyone who meets her. Her husband is certainly without doubt; so is the district officer; while her lawyer's doubts may be a natural skepticism. But this is Singapore and the resentful natives will have no compunction about undermining this accused murderess. A letter in her hand turns up and may prove her undoing.

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Production:

MGM Home Entertainment

Ratings:
Internet Movie Database:
7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%